Piece of Furniture With a Removable Container in a Drawer

ABSTRACT

A piece of furniture and in particular a desk, an office cupboard or a box-like receptacle for office use, comprises a drawer able to be pulled out as far as a maximum pulled-out position from a body ( 11 ) of the furniture and more especially a utensil drawer, and a box ( 20 ) able to be arranged in the drawer ( 14 ), the drawer ( 14 ) projecting past the body ( 11 ) in the furthest pulled out position while still being held by the body ( 11 ). In the rear portion of the drawer ( 14 ) there is a holding means ( 23 ) for the box ( 20 ) in a storage position, in which the box ( 20 ) is arranged in the drawer ( 14 ). A front wall ( 24 ) of the box ( 20 ) constitutes a rear inner wall ( 28 ) of the drawer ( 14 ), when the box ( 20 ) is held by the holding means ( 23 ) so that the box ( 20 ), as judged by eye, appears to the user of the furniture as an integral component of the drawer ( 14 ). An inner space ( 27 ) of the box ( 20 ) is concealed in the furthest pulled out position of the drawer.

The invention relates to a piece of furniture and in particular a desk, an office cupboard or a box-like receptacle for office use, comprising a drawer able to be pulled out as far as a maximum pulled-out position from the body of the furniture and more especially a utensil drawer, and a container able to be arranged in the drawer, the drawer projecting past the body in the furthest pulled out position while still being held by the body.

The container may for example be a box, a casket or the like that is able to be disposed in the drawer. The box can be removed from the drawer so that articles located in the box may be conveniently accessed.

When for example a conventional casket is disposed in the drawer it may be readily recognized as a removable container by eye. When objects are however to be arranged in the furniture more or less secretly, they must be concealed in one way or another. If the objects are only placed in a conventional container, which is readily recognized as a separate container, then the objects will be readily discovered by persons, from whom the objects are to be concealed.

Accordingly it is one object of the present invention to provide a piece of furniture with a secret compartment.

In order to attain this aim in the case of piece of furniture of the type initially mentioned there is a provision such that in a rear portion of the drawer there is a holding means for the box in a storage position, in which the box is arranged in the drawer, that a front wall of the box constitutes a rear inner wall of the drawer, when the box is held by the holding means so that the box as judged by eye, appears to the user of the furniture as an integral component of the drawer and in that an inner space of the box is concealed in the furthest pulled out position of the drawer.

The box is integrated so harmoniously in the drawer that in its storage position it is disguised as a component of the drawer. For instance, the box may have the same color and/or surface texture as a rear part of the drawer, and more especially as an inner partitioning structure or the like. At least in its rear section the inner partitioning structure and the box are preferably manufactured of the same material. For instance an inner partitioning structure of the drawer and the box may be fashioned of the same plastic. Furthermore, the same or a similar surface texture, as for example a grooved one, is preferred.

Preferably in the case of the box a stationary and/or movable top wall, a more especially a cover, is provided to cover over the inner space. This top wall or, respectively, the cover appear as a top wall of an inner partitioning structure of the drawer.

It can also be a question of a combination of a stationary top wall part and a movable top wall part, as for example a cover.

It is on the one hand preferred for the cover to completely close the box so that objects disposed in the box are not to be seen in the pulled out position of the drawer even when it is withdrawn to the maximum extent from the body.

In principle on the other hand it may be sufficient if for example a front section of the box, which is visible in the maximum pulled out position of the drawer, is concealed by the top wall or a top wall section or, respectively, by the cover.

Furthermore the inner space of an upwardly open box may be concealed in the furthest pulled out position of the drawer, if in this pulled out position for example only the front wall of the box is visible.

The cover is for example a folding cover, a sliding cover a snap-in cover or the like. It is an advantage for the cover only to be able to be opened when the box is removed from the drawer. For example the cover may be held by the holding means in a closed position.

The box is at least partially arranged within the body and is concealed. For instance, the body itself or a further drawer formed above the drawer designed in accordance with the invention will completely or partially conceal the box, even when the drawer is drawn out of the body as far as it will go.

Preferably the means holding means will include clamping means to clamp or grip the box in the drawer.

It is also possible for detent means, as for example catch projections to be provided for locking the box in the drawer or, respectively, in the holding means.

It is more particularly preferred to provide a spring arrangement, which thrusts the box in the storage position resiliently against an abutment. This serves to ensure a reliable hold for the box in the holding means. However furthermore the removal of the box from the means may be aided by the spring arrangement.

The user of the furniture will press the box against the force of the spring arrangement, which is preferably orientated to the fore and will then pivot and/or slide the box away from the abutment so that the box is moved outward with the aid of the spring arrangement from the holding means, f. i. to the front.

The holding means will preferably comprise a projection arranged on the drawer extending in the storage position of the box from its front wall. This projection for instance constitutes the abutment, which cooperates with the above mentioned spring arrangement. It will be clear that further projections and/or abutments will be convenient for the holding means, which retain the box in the storage position.

Preferably the box may only be removed from the holding means, when the drawer is completely or at least substantially completely withdrawn from the body and for example assumes the position of maximum extension.

Preferably the width of the box is substantially the same as an inner width of the drawer. However it is possible to provide several, as for example two, caddies in accordance with the invention in the rear portion of the drawer. In front of the caddies inner compartments, for example two thereof, may be provided. The width of the caddies and of the inner compartments preferably correlate so that the front walls of the caddies appear to the eye to be the rear inner walls of the inner compartments

In the following one working example of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective elevation looking obliquely downward on the piece of furniture in accordance with the invention with one drawer pushed into the body.

FIG. 2 shows the piece of furniture in accordance with FIG. 1 with the drawer retracted from the body and a partially hidden box arranged in the rear portion of the drawer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective elevation of the drawer in accordance with FIG. 2 with the box arranged in the rear part of the drawer in its storage position.

FIG. 4 shows the drawer and the box in accordance with FIG. 3, the box being already partially removed from the drawer, i. e. pivoted.

FIG. 5 shows the drawer in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4, the box being completely removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the box in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 with the cover closed.

FIG. 7 is view as in FIG. 6, the cover of the box being opened.

Using for example handles 13 tray-like drawers 12 may be pulled out from the body 11 of a piece of furniture 10 which has, for example, side walls 47, a top wall 48 and a bottom wall not illustrated. The body 11 is f. i. the bottom portion of a desk, and more particularly of a child's or young person's desk, a cupboard or a component of a wheeled container.

Above the drawers 12 there is a further drawer 14 in accordance with the invention, which is also able to be retracted from the body 11. The drawer 14 is for example a utensils drawer, as for example for writing utensils, paper clips, erasers or the like. When the drawer 14 is partially or completely retracted from the body 11 compartments or receptacles 17 of an inner partitioning structure 18 of the drawer 14 are accessible from above so that for example, cups, writing utensils, paper clips or other utensils may be disposed or put down in the compartments or receptacles 17.

A body 21 of the drawer 14 is able to be completely pushed into the body 11. For instance, the drawer body 23 is made of a plastic material, which has the partitioning structure 18.

At a front side 15 of the drawer body 21 there is a rest or front part 22. The front part 22 has a rest 16, f. i. a rest groove, in which objects may be laid. The rest 16 is also accessible from the front with the drawer 14 closed. The front part 22 or, respectively, the rest groove, constitute a grip-like handle for operation of the drawer 14. The rest groove extends along the full front width of the drawer 14 and constitutes the forepart of the drawer 14.

FIG. 2 shows the furthest pulled out position of the drawer 14 from the body 11. An abutment arrangement placed, not illustrated in the figure, prevents the drawer 14 from being further withdrawn for the body 11. The drawer 14 runs for example on guides, not shown, such as telescoping guides, on the body 11 which include a front abutment for restricting the maximum extended position. In this maximum extended position the guide will still hold the drawer 12 in the body 11 or on the body 11. In the position of maximum extension a rear section 19 of the drawer 14 is still within the body 11.

In the rear section 19 a box 20 may be arranged, which is located in the drawer 14 so as to appear to be eye as an integral component of the drawer 14 or, respectively, of the inner partitioning structure 18, as will be gathered from FIG. 2, for example. For the user of the furniture 10 it will not be apparent that the box 20 constitutes a separate component able to be removed from the drawer 14. The box 20 possesses the same style or design features as the rear section 19 and in the case of the working example the same features appealing to the eye, as for instance color and surface texture, as the inner partitioning structure 18. The inner partitioning structure 17 and the box 20 are preferably manufactured of the same plastic material.

In the rear section 19 of the drawer's body 21 there is a holding means 23 for the box 20. Even when the drawer 14 is pulled out to the maximum extent from the body the rear section 19 is within the body 11, i. e. it is concealed by the body 11. The user of the furniture 10 will, with the drawer pulled as far as it will go,see a front wall 24 and a top wall 25 of the box 20.

The front wall 24 and the top wall 25 are components of a cover 26 which in the present case is a folding or hinged cover.

The top wall 25 or, respectively, the cover 26 conceal an inner space 27 of the box 20 so that the inner space 27 is also concealed in the maximum pulled out position of the drawer 14 and is not visible. In the condition inserted into the drawer 14 of the box 20, i. e. the storage position. the front wall 24 of the box 20 also constitutes a rear inner wall 28 of the drawer 14 or, respectively, of its partitioning structure 18. The top wall 25 of the box 20 acts as a top wall of the drawer body 21. Both the front wall 24 and also the top wall of the drawer body 21 fit substantially free of any gap between them, i. e. preferably with a small intermediate space, into the remaining components of the drawer 14, as for example into the inner partitioning structure 18 so that the box 20 in the storage position appears as an integral portion of the drawer 14. The user of the furniture will not see that the box 20 is able to be removed from the furniture 10 and constitute a sort of secret compartment. For instance the top wall 25 and/or the front wall 24 are provided with a surface texture, as for example with grooves, which is otherwise utilized for the design of the inner partitioning structure 18 of the drawer 14.

The box 20 extends practically over the full inner width of the drawer body 21. Merely between the side walls 49 of the drawer body 21 and the front 24 narrow, hardly visible gaps are present.

In the furthest drawn out position the drawer 14 is shifted outward generally as far as a line 29 from the body 11. It will be seen more particularly in FIG. 3 that then a large part of the box 20 is still within the body 11. The box 20 is essentially able to be removed forward out of the holding means 23.

The holding means 23 has a recess 30, into which the box 20 can be inserted, f. i. obliquely to the front. The recess 30 at the bottom or, as in the working example, can have bottom abutments, as for example retaining projections 31. The retaining projections 31 are f. i. arranged at the side and/or at the front and/or at the rear in the bottom portion of the recess 30.

Furthermore the box 20 is held in its storage position by a top and a front abutment 32 and 33.

The top abutment 32 is constituted by a projection 34, which extends from a rear wall 35 to the fore toward the recess 30. The rear projection 34 is arranged in the top marginal portion of the rear wall 35. In the storage position the box 20 touches the rear abutment 32 from below.

The front abutment 33 is constituted by a front projection 36 on the drawer 14 or, respectively, the inner partitioning structure 18. The front projection 36 projects upward in front of a floor portion 46 of a rear compartment 37 in the drawer 14. In its storage position the box 20 abuts the front wall 24 on the front projection 36.

For removal from the holding means 23 the box 20 is firstly pivoted upward so that it is able to be shifted past the front projection 36 and may then be removed to the fore toward the rest portion 22. The pivoting movement is for example indicated in FIG. 4. As a removal and movement space 44 there is for example the rear compartment 37 of the drawer 14 which extends in front of the holding means 23 in the width direction of the box 20.

A spring arrangement 38 retains the box 20 in the holding means 23. Spring elements 39 of the spring arrangement 38 are arranged in the rear wall 35, f. i. in lateral portions thereof. The box 20 is inserted against the resilient force of the spring arrangement 38 obliquely to the rear into the holding means 23.

The spring elements 39 exert a resilient force to the fore, i. e. they urge the box 20 located in the holding means 23 against the front abutment 33 or, respectively, the projection 36. For the removal from the holding means 23 the box 20 is thrust a predetermined distance to the rear against the roof resilient force of the spring arrangement 38 so that it is shifted clear of the front abutment 33 and may be pivoted upward. The spring arrangement 38 aids the removal of the box 20 from the holding) means 23 since it shifts the box 20 forward, i. e. toward the user of the furniture, when the box 20 has been pivoted past the front projection 36.

The spring elements 39 are preferably fashioned as integral components of the drawer body 21. The spring elements 39 are for example resilient plastic parts, yoke-like parts with lateral spring kinks (as illustrated in drawing) or the like. It will be apparent that in the free inner space of the yoke-like spring elements 39 it is also possible for elastic plastic buffers, damping elements or the like to be provided. Furthermore metallic spring elements or other resilient, elastic means are advantageous in the case of a spring arrangement in accordance with the invention.

The spring arrangement 38 and the front abutment 33 constitute clamping means 45 for clamping the box 20 in the holding means 23.

The box 20 is for example designed in the form of a casket. A bottom portion 40 with a floor 41 and side walls 42 projecting upward from the floor 41 delimit the inner space 27. On a rear side wall 42 of the box 20 the cover 26 is hinged. In the closed state of the cover 26 the top wall 25 shuts off the inner space 27. Moreover, in the closed condition the front wall 24 constituted by the cover 26 extends in front of a front side wall 42 and the side walls 43 of the cover 26 extend in front of and lateral side walls 42 of the lower part 40 or cover the side walls 42 completely or partly.

In the storage position, i. e. inserted into the holding means 23, the cover 26 can not be opened, because the front wall 24 abuts against the abutment 33 or, respectively, the projection 36. 

1. A piece of furniture comprising a drawer able to be pulled out as far as a maximum pulled-out position from a body of the furniture and a box able to be arranged in the drawer, the drawer projecting past the body in the furthest pulled out position while still being held by the body, wherein in a rear portion of the drawer there is a holding means for holding the box in a storage position, in which the box is arranged in the drawer, that a front wall of the box constitutes a rear inner wall of the drawer, when the box is held by the holding means so that the box, as judged by eye, appears to the user of the furniture as an integral component of the drawer and that an inner space of the box is concealed in the furthest pulled out position of the drawer.
 2. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the box includes a stationary and/or movable top wall to hide the inner space.
 3. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 2, wherein the box possesses a cover cover to conceal the inner space from view.
 4. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top wall is completely or partially constituted by the cover.
 5. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cover is only able to be opened when the box is removed from the drawer.
 6. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top wall and/or the cover in the storage position of the box constitute a top wall of the drawer and in particular an inner partitioning structure of the drawer.
 7. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the box, when the drawer is pulled out as far as it will go, is at least partially arranged in the body and is concealed.
 8. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the holding means comprises clamping means for clamping and/or detent means acting as a catch to hold the box in the drawer.
 9. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the holding means comprises a spring arrangement to thrust the box into the storage position in a resilient fashion against an abutment.
 10. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 9, wherein the spring arrangement provides a resilient force directed toward the front side of the drawer in a forward direction.
 11. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the holding means has an abutment for the front wall of the box in the storage position of the box.
 12. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 11, wherein the abutment is constituted by a projection.
 13. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein in a rear portion of the drawer a free movement space is present in front of the holding means for removal of the box.
 14. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the box can only be taken from the holding means when the drawer is substantially completely removed from the body.
 15. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a rear portion of the drawer and the box have the same color and/or are fashioned of the same material, more particularly plastic.
 16. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein a width of the box is substantially equal to the inner width of the drawer.
 17. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 1, wherein the box is in the form of a casket.
 18. The piece of furniture as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cover comprises a folding cover. 